Gratitude That Adorns The Gospel-3

GRATITUDE That ADORNS The GOSPEL-III—Romans 1:15-25

OR: Gratitude That Graces The Gospel

Attention:

Most every window of our house(the pastorium) is decorated with a wreath. The circular nature of the wreath obviously references God’s eternity, Christ’s eternity, & thus the eternity of God’s love.

Each wreath has a large red(actually reddish due to weathering) bow attached at the bottom.

The redness represents for us the blood by which Christ came into our world. The red color of the bow also represents the blood of Christ which would be shed on the Cross.

The bow itself represents the arrival of God’s perfect gift for mankind in the birth of Jesus our Savior.

Below each wreath inside the house on each window sill is a candle(electric), which we light every night in December to reference the 24 days leading up to the Advent or our Lord on Christmas Day. It recalls for us the anxious anticipation of God’s people(& thru them, the world) as they had waited for God’s perfect Consolation.

Need:

There is still a Christian influence in American society, which causes a deep appreciation for the life & family that God has blessed them with. These openly recognize God’s provision for them. These realize that they have been abundantly blessed by the Lord their God.

Those who are not so inclined may still be influenced influenced by the Church to such a degree that they readily attach a religious sentimentality to Christmas.

Titus 2:9-10—“Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back, not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.”

1Pet. 3:3-4—“Do not let your adornment be merely outward--arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel-- rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle & quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.”

For the Christians in Rome, Paul delineated the relationship of gratitude to the Gospel.

Personal Gratitude must properly adorn the Gospel of Christ.

What manner of Gratitude properly adorns the Gospel of Christ?

OR...

How can your Gratitude adorn the Gospel of Christ?

8 assurances that your Gratitude is one that Adorns God’s Good News.

Last Sunday morning we found that

Our Gratitude adorns the Gospel thru...

1. Our SHAMELESS TRUST(:15-16)

2. SHARING(:17)

3—Gratitude adorns the Gospel thru...

REINFORCING GOD’s WRATH(:18)

Explanation: (:18)Oppose the lie/Bolster/Adherence to God

:18—“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness & unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,”

In the Gospel of Christ the “wrath of God” is simultaneously “revealed” with His righteousness in salvation. The wrath originated “from heaven.”

This wrath is directed “against” the “ungodliness” & unrighteousness” which “men” levy against God’s righteousness.

*Reference lexicon elucidations(which follow).

In their battle against God’s righteousness, men willfully “suppress” God’s revealed “truth.” They hold God’s truth from others by their personal unrighteousnesses as well as the unrighteousness which characterizes a world without Christ.

“Truth” is objective[set/decided] & not subjective to individual opinion. It is reality whether I like it or not. It is still reality no matter how much effort I put into holding it back—Philosophies, sciences, theories, religions, ideas, civil participation, love for country, emotional ties, etc.

*Elucidate the concrete manifestations of the above(philisophies, etc.)...

1Cor. 1:18-21—“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.”

Col. 2:6 -9—“As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted & built up in Him & established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy & empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, & not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;”

“Wrath”—orgh—Noun Fem.—1) Anger, the natural disposition, temper, character; 2) Movement or agitation of the soul, impulse, desire, any violent emotion, but especially anger; 3) Anger, wrath, indignation; 4) Anger exhibited in punishment, hence used for punishment itself—4a) Of punishments inflicted by magistrates. Strong—properly--Desire(as a reaching forth or excitement of the mind), i.e. by analogy--Violent passion(ire, or [justifiable] abhorrence); by implication--Punishment.